Australian Made Week always feels significant for us at Philosophy Australia, not because we suddenly “become” Australian made for a week of celebration, but because it is one of the few moments on the calendar where the broader conversation catches up to the reality we live every single day.
Last week I kindly invited by Paul Nicolaou to attend the Business NSW and Australian Made Campaign breakfast celebrating Australian Made Week 2026, alongside leaders from government, manufacturing, innovation and industry. The room was filled with people who genuinely understand that making things locally still matters, not just emotionally or nostalgically, but economically, strategically and culturally too.
For those of us who manufacture in Australia, our days are filled with production schedules, timelines, staffing, and constant problem solving. So being in a room that openly recognised the value of local makers, growers and manufacturers to the national economy felt important, and I loved hearing other companies’ stories.
One of the standout moments of the morning for me came from Dr Ken Cato AO reflecting on the history and significance of the Australian Made green and gold kangaroo logo.
National colours, the shape inspired by an A and a Kangaroo, so Australian.
Simple, effective and still visually impactful as we celebrated its 40th anniversary.
It was a reminder that the symbol itself carries enormous trust. As consumers, we recognise it instantly, but behind that logo are real businesses, honest people, and entire local ecosystems working hard to keep Australian industry alive.
At Philosophy Australia, being Australian made is not a marketing layer added on afterwards. It is the business model itself, and half our name for good reason.
Every garment we create is cut and sewn here in Sydney. Every supplier we work with is another Australian small business. Every machinist, cutter, fabric wholesaler, photographer, creative, and contractor contributes to an interconnected local economy that exists because consumers choose to support it.
And while only 3% of clothing sold in Australia is made here, events like this reinforced that there is growing momentum behind changing that conversation.
There was also honesty in the room around the challenges facing manufacturers. Rising operational costs, global competition, changing consumer habits and the pressure of competing against heavily discounted imported product are realities every Australian manufacturer understands deeply. I did however find encouragement in that the discussion was not based in fear. It was optimistic about innovation, resilience and long-term thinking.
I believe Australian manufacturing cannot survive on guilt-based consumerism alone. It survives when businesses create genuinely beautiful, useful, high-quality products that people truly want to wear, use and keep. It survives when customers understand value beyond just price; and it survives when businesses continue evolving rather than simply mourning what the industry used to be.
That is something I thought about often throughout Australian Fashion Week as well. There is a growing shift happening across fashion conversations toward transparency, circularity, sustainability and thoughtful consumption. For brands like ours who have quietly operated this way for years, it feels less like a trend and more like long overdue recognition.
I left the breakfast feeling proud (and wrapped in the complimentary branded scarf!)
Proud that Philosophy Australia is part of the Australian Made community. Proud that we continue to manufacture locally despite the challenges. Proud that our customers actively choose to support Australian design and production. And proud that after more than twenty years, local manufacturing is still something worth fighting for.
Because in a world increasingly driven by speed, convenience and disposability, there is still something incredibly powerful about being able to say: Made in Sydney, with love.
Ben Lazzaro Chief Executive Australian Made Campaign/Paul Nicolaou Executive Director Business NSW/Dr Ken Cato
